What is the krill oil good for?

What Is Krill Oil?

Aogubio Krill oil is derived from tiny crustaceans called Antarctic krill. These sea creatures are a dietary staple for many animals, including whales, seals, penguins and other birds.

Krill oil also looks different than fish oil. While fish oil is typically a shade of yellow, a naturally occurring antioxidant called astaxanthin gives krill oil a reddish color.

Krill oil comes from a tiny, shrimp-like marine animal. It's rich in the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

The benefits of krill oil seem to come from its omega-3 fatty acid content. The body doesn't produce many of its own omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce pain and swelling and also prevent the blood from clotting easily.

Don't confused krill oil with algal oil, cod liver oil, fish oil, or shark liver oil. These are not the same.

Krill Oil Contains More Antioxidants

Antioxidants help protect the body from oxidative stress, a type of cell damage caused by molecules called free radicals.

Krill oil contains an antioxidant called astaxanthin, which is not found in most fish oils.

Many people claim that the astaxanthin in krill oil protects it from oxidation and keeps it from going rancid on the shelf. However, no definitive research has confirmed this claim.

However, research has demonstrated that astaxanthin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may provide some heart health benefits.

For example, one study showed that isolated astaxanthin lowered triglycerides and increased “good” HDL cholesterol in people with mildly elevated blood lipids.

Nevertheless, this study provided astaxanthin in much larger doses than those you would typically get from krill oil supplements. It is unclear if smaller amounts would provide the same benefits.

Health Benefits of Krill Oil

• Excellent Source of Healthy Fats

Both krill oil and fish oil contain the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA.

However, some evidence suggests that the fats found in krill oil may be easier for the body to use than those from fish oil, since most omega-3 fats in fish oil are stored in the form of triglycerides .

On the other hand, a large portion of the omega-3 fats in krill oil can be found in the form of molecules called phospholipids, which may be easier to absorb into the bloodstream.

A few studies found that krill oil was more effective than fish oil at raising omega-3 levels, and hypothesized that their differing forms of omega-3 fats might be why.

Another study carefully matched the amounts of EPA and DHA in krill oil and fish oil, and found that the oils were equally effective at raising levels of omega-3s in the blood.

More research is needed to determine whether krill oil is actually a more effective, bioavailable source of omega-3 fats than fish oil.

• Can Help Fight Inflammation

Omega-3 fatty acids like those found in krill oil have been shown to have important anti-inflammatory functions in the body.

In fact, krill oil may be even more effective at fighting inflammation than other marine omega-3 sources because it appears to be easier for the body to use.

What’s more, krill oil contains a pink-orange pigment called astaxanthin, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

A few studies have begun to explore the specific effects of krill oil on inflammation.

One test-tube study found that it reduced the production of inflammation-causing molecules when harmful bacteria were introduced to human intestinal cells.

A study of 25 people with slightly raised blood fat levels found that taking 1,000-mg supplements of krill oil daily improved a marker of inflammation even more effectively than a 2,000-mg daily supplement of purified omega-3s.

In addition, a study of 90 people with chronic inflammation found that taking 300 mg of krill oil daily was enough to reduce a marker of inflammation by up to 30% after one month.

Although there are only a few studies investigating krill oil and inflammation, they have shown potentially beneficial results.

• Might Reduce Arthritis and Joint Pain

Because krill oil seems to help reduce inflammation, it may also improve arthritis symptoms and joint pain, which often result from inflammation.

In fact, a study that found krill oil significantly reduced a marker of inflammation also found that krill oil reduced stiffness, functional impairment and pain in patients with rheumatoid or osteoarthritis .

A second, small but well-designed study of 50 adults with mild knee pain found that taking krill oil for 30 days significantly reduced participants’ pain while they were sleeping and standing. It also increased their range of motion.

Additionally, researchers studied the effects of krill oil in mice with arthritis. When the mice took krill oil, they had improved arthritis scores, less swelling and fewer inflammatory cells in their joints.

While more studies are required to support these results, krill oil appears to have good potential as a supplemental treatment for arthritis and joint pain.

• Could Improve Blood Lipids and Heart Health

Omega-3 fats, and DHA and EPA specifically, are considered heart-healthy.

Research has shown that fish oil may improve blood lipid levels, and krill oil appears to be effective as well. Studies have shown it may be particularly effective at lowering levels of triglycerides and other blood fats.

One study compared the effects of krill oil and purified omega-3s on cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Only krill oil raised “good” high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. It was also more effective at decreasing a marker of inflammation, even though the dosage was much lower. On the other hand, the pure omega-3s were more effective at lowering triglycerides.

A recent review of seven studies concluded that krill oil is effective at lowering “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and may increase “good” HDL cholesterol, too .

Another study compared krill oil to olive oil and found that krill oil significantly improved insulin resistance scores, as well as the function of the lining of the blood vessels.

More long-term studies are needed to investigate how krill oil affects the risk of heart disease. But based on the evidence so far, it seems effective at improving certain known risk factors

• May Help Manage PMS Symptoms

In general, consuming omega-3 fats may help decrease pain and inflammation (19).

Several studies have found that taking omega-3 or fish oil supplements can help decrease period pain and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), in some cases enough to decrease the use of pain medication.

It appears that krill oil, which contains the same types of omega-3 fats, may be just as effective.

One study compared the effects of krill oil and fish oil in women diagnosed with PMS .

The study found that while both supplements resulted in statistically significant improvements in symptoms, women taking krill oil took significantly less pain medication than women taking fish oil.

This study suggests that krill oil may be at least as effective as other sources of omega-3 fats at improving PMS symptoms.

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